What guitars do you string with Monels?

[Wade Hampton]

In my case, I own two guitars that I prefer to string with nickel alloy strings, and one on which I tolerate them. They don’t sound very good on any of my other guitars, but I do like them on my banjos and on one of my mandolins.

The two guitars that I prefer to string with nickel alloy strings are my maple Guild jumbo and my koa 12 fret Triple O (both of which have spruce tops.) The other guitar that I string with nickel alloy strings is my cedar-topped Seagull Folk model guitar that I keep out on a stand next to my computer. I think it actually sounds better with phosphor bronze strings, but only somewhat better, and I string it with nickel strings simply because I can keep it out on a stand and not have to restring it as often. Nickel alloy strings definitely stay playable for longer than uncoated bronze strings do.

Even though I’m not especially enthralled by the sound of nickel strings on that particular instrument, I still like them significantly better than any of the coated strings I’ve experimented with on that guitar.


Wade Hampton Miller

[bls82261]

This goes against popular opinion but I really like them on both rosewood backed guitars (LS16 & D28) and really dislike them on the hog (LG2)

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by bls82261

This goes against popular opinion but I really like them on both rosewood backed guitars (LS16 & D28) and really dislike them on the hog (LG2)

Nobody else gets a vote on which strings sound good to your ears on which guitars, or why. That is your call alone.


whm

[SalFromChatham]

I have Martin Retro Lights on a 2014 Gibson Country Western Reissue (essentially identical innards to a Hummingbird). Sitka over Mahogany.

Sounds great. The strings take a few days to settle in.

[llew]

Just put a set of Retro .013's on my CS HD-28 Adi. So far so good...

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

Not necessarily.

Only because we have different definitions of what makes a "better" guitar.

[wbeaver]

Fantastic on my J45 and on my Gibson Parlor rosewood. My favorite strings I've used, particularly on the j45

[Tnfiddler]

I tried them on my Bourgeois adi/hog Slope D and wasn't too impressed! Way better than the EJ17's they replaced on it, but too "Jangly" sounding to me. They weren't horrible, but they can't hang with GHS Signature Bronze on that guitar!!

[big jilm]

I have a set of Reto Monel .012’s on my Martin 000-15m, a set of medium (Lawrence Juber set) .013’s on my Seagull S6 Cedar, and have used a medium set on my Taylor GS Mini Mahogany as well.

I like them because there is less jangle. Monel strings seem to me to have a warmer tone - simpler with less overtones than a PB set of strings.

They also last longer than any non-coated strings I have tried (so far).

I went back to Elixirs on my GS Mini, but only because I ran out of Monels last string change. I’ll be going back to them at string change time.

[Rosewood99]

The two posts above me made me smile. One says too jangly and the other says not jangly. That's why the you have to take any opinions with a grain of salt. Only way to be sure is let your own ears decide.

[thomasinaz]

I like Monels on my D18, and the D28 before I sold it. I have a feeling they'd be good on the J45, but it really sounds great with the Martin Lifespan PBs that are on it now.

[GeneralDreedle]

I had them on my Southern Jumbo and my Martin HD28 VTS-loved them on both.

[bufflehead]

I string my 000-15m with Retros. Haven't tried them on any of the other guitars, on which I use D'Addario ESPs. But the ESPs didn't really cut it on the all-hog guitar, especially after a couple weeks, and the monels do.

[raysachs]

I've only played them on Emerald carbon fiber guitars. Liked them on an X20, absolutely LOVE them on my X7. I keep going back and forth between Monels and Sunbeams, which are both awesome. The Sunbeams are a bit better for fingerpicking, the Models are a bit more than a bit better for strumming. Whichever one I have on the guitar at a given moment seem to be my favorite strings. I never tried Monels when I had an 000-15M - wish I had.

I've heard a lot of people say they're great on mahogany guitars and rubbish on rosewood. But Martin's story is that Tony Rice asked them to make these again because he missed the sound of them on his D28. So, I guess it varies. A lot. Your ears, your choice!

-Ray

[Dadzmad]

I like the Retro's on my Godin Kingpin (laminate archtop)